Cell Structure

I got these questions off out practice quiz (BIO111, Topic 4, Cell Structures (Ch. 4) Practice Quiz)

I figured if I can take the practice quiz why cant I post it in my blog too!!! :)


Q ... 1. Grana, thylakoids, and stroma are all componets found in.
A... Chloroplast     (I got this one right)   :)

Q... 2. All of the following are part of a prokaryotic cell except.
A... an endoplasmic reticulum                    (I got this one right) :))

Q... 3. Which sturcutres carry out cell movement?
A... Microtubules and microfilaments     (I got this one right)  :)

Q... 4. A cell has the following molecules and strucutres: enzymes, DNA, ribosomes, plasma membrane, and mitochondria. It could be a cell from
A... A plant or an animal      (I got this one wrong) :(

Q... 5. Which organelle makes protines using coded instructions that come from the nucleus?
A...  Ribosome   (I got this one right) :)

Q... 6. Eukaryotes usually contain
A... a nucleus...genetic material... and specialized organelles.   ( I got this one right) :)

Q... 7. Which of the following are capable of convering light energy to chemical energy?
A... Chloroplasts (I got this one right ) :)

Q... 8. Which organelle converts the chemical energy stored in food into compounds that are more convienent for the cell to use, such as ATP?
A... Mitochondrion ( I got this right )

Q... 9. Which structure is the site of the synthesis of proteins that may be exported from the cell?
A... Through ER   ( I got this one wrong but I knew I made a mistake ) :(

Q... 10. Which cell structure contains the cells genteic material and controls many of the cells activities?
A... Nucleus ( I got this one wrong)

Defnitions of  the answers above ^^^ I only defined specific words I was confused on...
 I got these from (Dictionary.com)

- Chloroplast is a plastid containing chlorophyll.
-Endoplasmic Reticulum is simply a network.
-Microtubules are hollow cylinderical structures in the cytoplasm of most cells, involves shape and transport.
-Ribosome is a small organelle occurring in great numbers in the cell cytoplasm... Functioning as the site of protein manufacture.


Most of this I covered before this class. When I covered it the first time I really enjoyed it... This time I was kind of board because I knew most of it... This pre test was a good review and gave me a good idea for my post on research ... Check it out!!!

Membrane Structure

Cell membranes are composed of many phospholipids. Phospholipids are made up of two parts... ( the head and the tail ). The head is hydrophilic- 'loves water'. The tail is the opposide it hates water and it is called hydrophobic. A hydrophobic phospholipid consists of 16 to 18 carbon; they also contain small amounts of oxygen. These opposing parts of the phospholipid makes up the main structure of the cell membrane. If you comnine many phospholipids this makes up a cell membrane. Fatty acids are usually 16 to 22 carbons long. There are two types of fatty acids, saturated and unsaturated. Saturated fatty acids have no carbon to carbon double bonds. Unsaturated fatty acids have one to three double bonds along the carbon chain. Fats are storage for energy and insulating molecules. Fats contain twice as much energy as carbohydrates which means we could survive off fatts longer then carbs. Unsaturated fat have fatty acids, saturated fat has none...


I will later post a picture that my peer group and I drew of  membrane structure...

Osmosis Lab

In our 6th hour class we did a diffusion and osmosis lab. In this lab we had a solution of glucose and starch and placed it inside a bag of dialysis tubing. In a cup with iodine and water, but first tied off the ends tight to make sure they woulnt mix. After a half hour passed we checked the glucose level of the water in the cup and it came out negative. Over the weekend we let the membrane tube sit in the cup, and the results were that the fluid inside the membrane tube leaked into the cup with iodine and water. The iodine from outside the dialysis tubing also leaked in, because it  turned a different color from mixing with the starch. When we tested both the liquid in the cup and membrane tube, they both had a high level of glucose, that was definitely positive.

The group I was in and I decided to do another version of the lab and weigh the substances so we could see what left and went into the dialysis tubing. We did four different cups with the substances and water mixed in the dialysis tubing. The four different substances were corn syrup, sodium acetate, antacid tablets, and sodium bicarbonate. We weighed them three different times to make sure the results would come out accurate. The first time we weighed them, we weighed before we put them in the cup of water and cup one with antacid tablets weighed 13.43g, and the 4th cup with sodium bicarbonate weighed 11.66g. An hour later we weighed them again, and the 1st cup weighed 14.74g, the 2nd cup weighed 23.09g, the 3rd cup weighed 15.88g , and the 4th cup weighed 12.09g. We also did the same thing the day later. Cup 1 was 14.23g, the second cup was 16.23g, the third cup was 8.47g, and the fourth was 11.46g. As you cna see when we weighed them the hour later, they were at their highest, because thats the time when the water goes through all the little pores in the ddialysis tubing, and water moves very quickly because it dosent have very big molecules, so that is what made that possible. Over night and part of the next day is when the other substances started coming out slowly because they have bigger molecules than the water and are more dense, so it takes longer for them to go through the tubing. The sodium acetate collected the most water out of all of them, because the molecules of the acetate went through the pores in the membrane easier than all of the substances. Now that we did the lab again in a different way we really saw the diffusion and Osmosis come out in the experiments.

here is a Graph of the data we found out in our lab:

Microscope test!!!

In anatomy we had a test over how to properly use a microscope! This helped me in biology I got a 100%on the test!! I went a little over the limit by asking Mr. Ludwig to help me learn how to use the higest power and the oil on the lense, it was pretty neat how close you can view some things!!

Collagen web quest

COLLAGEN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Proteins are the most diverse class of biological molecules.  Most of your body is made up of proteins.  Eact protein consists of one or more polypeptide chains, in which amino acids are strung together in a specific order.  This amino acid sequence or 'primary structure' is the key to the shape and function of the protein.  Interactions among different amino acids along the length ofthe polypeptide chain cause it to coil, bend, and fold into a complex shape.  Some proteins consist of two or more polypeptide chains.  In many cases, the polypeptide chains form a rounded or globular shape.  Most enzymes are like this, as is the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin molecule.  In other cases, polypeptide chains form long strands or sheets.  These fibrous proteins are often structural componets, such as keratin and collagen.

ACTIVITY

In this activity, you will explore the structure and function of collagen, the most abundant protein in the human body.  You will begin by visiting a Protein DataBank site, where structure of collagen is described and illustrated in a "Molecule of the Month" feature.  Next, you will reaseach the effects of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a genetic disorder that affects the structure or number of collagen molecules.

PART 1

Use your browser to go to http://www.rcsb.org

Do a search at the very top of the page for collagen, then click on the Read More link to view the article on collagen.

 Read the information and view the graphics. Use this information to answer the following questions:

1. Describe the primary structure of collagen. What are the major amino acid componets?

The major amino acids are glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. Triple Helix is a type of collagen and is a long rope like structure. They are braided together by three polypeptide chains. Every third amino acid (glycine) is perfectly fitted into the helix. The rest are filled into the helix which is proline and hdroxproline.

2. What role does vitamin C play in collagen formation? What happens when a person does not gen enough vitamin C in his or her diet?

Vitamen C helps create hydroxyproline so it is very important to have it. The body can NOT produce vitamin C so we have to make sure we have it in our diet. When we don`t the production of collagen slows down, this can cause scurvy.

3. Describe the quaternary structure of collagen (the way in wich the polypeptide chains are arranges).

Like braiding your hair, that is how collagens are structured. They come together making long strands side by side. they unite with the heads connection and the tails far apart.

PART 2

Use your browser to go to the Web site of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation at http://www.rcsb.org

On the left side of the home page, click the link "About OI," then find the "Facts About Ol" section.

Read the material in the sections entitled "Facts on Osteogenesis Imperfecta" and "Types of OI". Use what you ahve learned to answer the following questions:

1. What is the main symptom of osteogenesis imperfects? What are some other symptoms that people with OI have?

Some symptoms are that you are very fragile and bones can break or fracture. The loss of hearing can start and joint laxity. Also, curved bones (scoliosis) and having short stature.

2. Type I osteogenesis imperfecta causes fewer problems than the other forms. How does the collagen structure in Type I OI differ from that of the other types?

The collagen structure is very normal which makes it different than every other collagen. Excepy you dont have an average amount of collagen you have less.

Read the handout in the resource section on Bone Structure (opens in Acrobat Reader).

1. Describe the role of collagen in bones. Why do collagen problems lead to bone problems?

Collagen is like the foundation of your bones, making them stronger! Bones have a frame and collagen builds on them making them not as fragile or easy to break.

Carbohidrates Lab!!

            I REALLY enjoyed the carb lab, it helped me to understand sacchrides a whole lot better! In this lab we also worked in groups.

HYPOTHESIS: The Cheerios will be Polysacchride, the corn syrup will be Disacchrides and the Galactose will be a Monosacchride.

PURPOSE: The purpose for this lab was to get a better understanding about Sacchrides, what they are and how they join together.

MARTERIALS: Three test tubes, Cheerios, Corn syrup, Galactose, Water, Hot water bath, Benidicts, Iodine, a test tube holder, and something to Label the test tubes with.

PROCEDURE:
1st we gathered all of the materials that we needed. (Cheerios, Cornsyrup, and Galactose)
2nd we placed a little of each material in each tube separately.
3rd we tested the benidicts in each tube... to test the benidicts we add a little of water in each tube with a little benidicts and a little of each thing you are testing. Then you place the three tubes in the Hot water bath for 5 minutes 
4th we record our data
5th we test the iodine repeating step 3 but we used iodine instead of benidicts and we did not place the tubes in the hot water bath
6th we record our data and compare benidicts and iodine to determine which of the things we were testing was mono, poly, or di saccharides. 

DATA:
            Cheerios were a Disacchride
            Corn syrup was a Monosacchride
            Galactoce was a Monosaccride
As a group we did not have any Polysacchrides but as a class we had many...

EXAMPLES:
Mono- Gaclactose, Glucose, and Cornsyrup
Di-Lactose, and Sucrose
Poly-Starch, Cheerios, Flour, and Kicks Cereal.

CONCLUSION:
 Based on all of the research that we did in this lab we came to find that
            Cheerios were a Disacchride
            Corn syrup was a Monosacchride
            Galactoce was a Monosaccride!!
   

Macromolecule in cells questions... WEB SEARCH!!

Open your web browser to navigate to:

http://www.sci.uidaho.edu/bionet/biol115/t2_basics_of_life/lesson2.htm

Read the introduction to Macromolecules and answer these questions:

1. What is a Macromolecuel?

A Macromolecuel refers to a class of large molecules that are very important biologically.

2. What is monomer?

A monomer is a bunch of several molecules that are chemically bonded to form long polymer molecules.

3. What is a polymer?

Polymers are macromolecules that are built and broken down in the same way.

4. List the four main types of macromoelcules.

a. Protiens

b. Lipids

c. Carbohydrates

d. Nucleic acids

In the learning materials box click the link for the activity "making and breaking plymers." Use this activity to help answer the following questions:

5. What are the types of reactions that macromolecules are shown to undergo?

The types of reactions that macromolecules are shown to undergo are condensation and hydrolysis reactions.

6. Describe how monomers are joined together.

Monomers join together because condensation forms the molecules, they are joined by gaining other molecules; they all attach to eachother.

7. Describe how polymers are broken down.

A polymer is broken down by a process called hydrolysis.

8. What is the specific name for the bond between simple sugar monomer?

A specific name for the bond between simple suger monomers is Glycosidic linkages.

9. Which kind of enzyme joins monomers together?

Proteins are the enzyme that joins monomers together.

Back on the previous macromolecules page, scroll down to the
section on carbohydrates. In the learning materials box for carbohydrates click
the link to the “build a carbohydrate” activity.

10. describe how you had to arrange the sugar monomers in order to build a polysaccharide.

The coners must connect so the oxygens can join and they make a polysaccharide.

11. Which building blocks of macromolecules are NOT used in building carbohydrates?

Amino acids and fatty acids.

Back on the previous carbohydrates page, click on the link
on the bottom of the page labeled “More on Carbohydrates.”  Read the article and answer these questions:

12. Why is sugar stored as glycogen in the human body?

Sugar is stored as glycogen in the human body because when energy is needed it boosts you up fast... The storage is like a back up plan.

13. Why are plant foods essential to animal life?

Plant food is essential to animal life because thats where animals get their energy.

14. Describe how starch is digested by animals.

Animals digest starch by the saliva in their mouth. The saliva breaks it down andthen goes in the digestive system.

15. What is "fiber" and why is it important in your diet?

Fiber is a special type of carbohydrate and plays an important role for your blood sugar levels.

16. What causes you to pass gas (fart) according to the article?

When you pass gas it is because there is to much air in your stomach and it needs to escape, you either burp or pass gas.



Scroll back up to the top of the
carbohydrates article and click on the link in the text to “Low Carbo Madness”
and read the linked article.


17. What are some disadvantages of a low carb diet?

Some disadvantages to a low carb diet are in the first few much there is a great weight loss. But later on within the year there is great energy loss and you will not get all the carbs that you need.

Return to the original carbohydrates lesson page and click
on the link on the bottom “Carbohyrates and Cavities” and read the linked page.

18. Sugars and cavities formation

Acid-producer + carbohydrates + teeth= Cavities
When you eat sugars it produces acids that causes cavities.

Acid blog

                                                                            "ACID IN YOUR STOMACH"

In this lab my group and I (Serena, Katrina and Nika) saw what tums and rolaids do in your stomach.

When you have a stomach ache you take medicine to make yourself feel better. We
tested two tablets (tums and rolaids) mixed together with baking soda and vinegar. This acts like the acid in your stomach. We used PH strips to measure the level of ph it contains. We did tums
and the generic tablets to investigate which one worked better. Since its generic we thought that it would have worked much better; the baking soda bubbled like crazy! We
guessed right. The tum's ph was the lowest however the baking soda was
the highest.

H2O :))

Last week in Biology we learned why water molecules are "sticky." In the first lab Nika, Serena, Katrina and I did, using a dropper and a penny, we placed as many drops of water on the penny as we could WITHOUT spilling off the side, we only got 29 when the record was something like 65. Then after cleaning the penny and droper we used the same tecquniques but instead of using water we used alcohol. With using the alcohol we only got 23 drops. We learned in this lab that water has buoyancy.

After realizing that water is very "sticky," we did a few tests. The main test was to see if we placed one side of a string to a beaker with water in it, and the other side to a beaker without. we raised the beaker with the water pouring the water on to the string to glide down to the empty beaker.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO THAT WE MADE YOU WILL GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING!!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHUEtxbDL90

"Scientific Method"

Some say that there is a "right" way to do an experiment. I agree with that theory to an extent, I believe that you should start with a beginning, middle, and an end. What I don't believe is that there is steps that you should follow. For example the "scientific method" says that you have to first have a problem, then make an observation, a hypothesis then finally you test your experiment, and after all of that you end with a conclusion. From reading a few different links (see below) I realized that science is not always set out that way. In reality yes, we do put the hypothesis, problem, and observation at the beginning side following with the experiment and ending with a conclusion but there really is no"linear" way. In an experiment there are a few 'rules'. You must have a control which is also known as the thing that stays the same. The dependent variable is the control in the experiment it is what is being measured. The independent variable effects the outcome of the experiment.

For example in the corn experiment the dependent variable was how high the corn grows but the independent variable was the number of bugs around the corn. The control in the corn experiment was the sunlight and water. A placebo is a "sugar pill," this is a type of control; this is something that has no effect on the experiment, this is only made for the person to believe that there is a difference when this "object" is added. Sometimes placebos are used in place of a control in an experiment. In a double blind trial neither the person receiving the item or giving the item has an idea of what the outcome will be. For example if a Dr. Or researcher wants to know if taking vitamin C helps reduce colds they gather two separate groups. One group will receive the placebo (sugar pill), and the other will get the vitamin C, neither the participants or the researcher know which group is getting what. This helps for the researches to get an accurate outcome.

http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/howscienceworks_01

http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_01/BL_01.html

My junior year...

Honestly I can't believe that it is already my junior year. This year is going to be a difficult one with many upcoming challenges. One challenge is that I am a teen mother. Another is making sure I pass all of my classes so that I can move on w ith my high school dagree and begin my college dagree... This is my first blog and I'm not sure how this is going to work... If you would like to hear more simply send me a comment and I will continue with some challenges for me and how I plan to overcome them.